Greek parliament approves austerity plan
February 13th, 2012 - 3:35 pm ICT by IANSAthens, Feb 13 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Greece’s parliament has approved austerity measures requested by the eurozone and the International Monetary Fund to secure a 130-billion euro ($170 billion) bailout to avoid default.
The vote on the unpopular package that envisions belt-tightening and wage and pension cuts was preceded by riots and looting in Athens that also spread to other cities. A total of 199 out of 300 deputies of the unicameral parliament voted for the bill, 74 were against with five abstentions.
A few buildings in Athens were set on fire as tens of thousands of protesters expressed their anger at the austerity plan. About 70 people, half of them police officers, were injured, health authorities said.
Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos earlier warned against failing to agree spending cuts, saying Greece was facing “uncontrolled economic chaos”.
The bill is yet to be approved by the Eurozone finance ministers.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
rd/vt
- New Greek government wins confidence vote - Nov 17, 2011
- Greek government survives trust vote - Jun 22, 2011
- Greece votes in parliamentary elections (Lead) - May 06, 2012
- New Democracy party asked to form Greek government - Jun 18, 2012
- New government sworn in Greece - Nov 11, 2011
- Greece poised for further spending cuts - Feb 06, 2012
- Give Greece extra time: Austria - Aug 27, 2012
- Europe should help Greece to avoid crisis: Greek PM - Oct 16, 2011
- Merkel advises Greek referendum on euro membership - May 19, 2012
- Greece to vote in new polls June 17 - May 17, 2012
- Greece approves 2012 budget amid austerity protests - Dec 07, 2011
- Cash-strapped Greece cuts government jets - Aug 28, 2012
- New Democracy party asked to form Greek government (Lead) - Jun 18, 2012
- IMF approves another bailout tranche for Greece - Dec 06, 2011
- Lucas Papademos named new Greek prime minister - Nov 10, 2011
Tags: anger, athens, austerity measures, bailout, deputies, economic chaos, eurozone, finance ministers, greece, greek parliament, greek prime minister, health authorities, international monetary fund, parliament, police officers, protesters, ria novosti, riots, tens of thousands, unicameral parliament